Mental Toughness

We all reach critical points in our lives where our mental toughness is tested. 

Whatever the challenge, we have to be strong, see things through a new lens, and take decisive action if you want to move through it successfully.

It sounds easy. We all want good friends, good jobs, and good relationships.

But it isn’t.

It’s hard to be mentally tough, especially when we feel stuck. The ability to break the mold and take a bold new direction requires that extra grit, daring, and spunk that only the mentally toughest people have.

It’s fascinating how mentally tough people set themselves apart from the crowd. Where others see impenetrable barriers, they see challenges to overcome.

When Thomas Edison’s factory burned to the ground in 1914, destroying one-of-a-kind prototypes and causing huge damage, Edison’s response was simple:

"Thank goodness all our mistakes were burned up. Now we can start fresh again".

Edison's reaction is an example of mental toughness—seeing opportunity and taking action when things look bleak.

There are habits we can develop to improve our mental toughness. 

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the cornerstone of mental toughness. You cannot be mentally tough without the ability to fully understand and tolerate strong negative emotions and do something productive with them. Moments that test your mental toughness are ultimately testing your emotional intelligence (EQ).

Unlike your IQ, which is fixed, your EQ is a flexible skill that you can improve with understanding and effort. It’s no wonder that 90% of top performers have high EQs and people with high EQs earn  more on average than their low-EQ counterparts.

Unfortunately EQ skills are in short supply. 

They’re Confident

Whether you think you can, or think you can’t—you’re right. – Henry Ford

Mentally tough people subscribe to his notion that your mentality has a powerful effect on your ability to succeed. This notion isn’t just a motivational tool—it’s a fact. A recent study at the University of Melbourne showed that confident people went on to earn higher wages and get promoted more quickly than others did.

True confidence—as opposed to the false confidence people project to mask their insecurities—has a look all its own. Mentally tough people have an upper hand over the doubtful and the skittish because their confidence inspires others and helps them to make things happen.

Being strong starts really early in life.Setting attainable targets,handling failure and accepting the role of being a team player are building blocks to being really strong mentally in life

Thank goodness all our mistakes were burned up. Now we can start fresh agai